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We would like to preface this information by stating that we are not 'researchers' by any stretch of the imagination, simply horse lovers with curious minds. We would appreciate any relevant information that we may have missed. The following information is not presented as a comment on the horse meat export trade at this stage, simply the facts as we find them. The question for us was...WHAT ARE THE FIGURES FOR THE QUANTITY OF PROCESSED HORSE MEAT EXPORTED OVERSEAS SPECIFICALLY FOR THE PURPOSE OF HUMAN CONSUMPTION? Interestingly, we did not find this data readily available. From the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry:
In actual fact, DAFF does of course compile statistics on the annual tonnage of meat types exported, however 'Horse' meat is conspicuously absent in the statistics provided. (Downloaded from the D.A.F.F. site here). We were unable to find any statistics on the Australian Bureau of Statistics web site which document either the quantity of horses processed for meat, or the volume of horse meat exported. In response to an enquiry directed to the ABS, we received the below response:
In actual fact, the ABS does compile data related to horse meat exported, although the data was ultimately provided to us by ABARES (Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics and Sciences). This government department however, also omits 'Horse' meat from where you would expect to find it (i.e. 'Australian Export of Meat, by Product' & 'Gross Value of Australian Livestock Slaughterings') within their latest 'Australian Commodity Statistics Report' document (2010). Our point? According to the ABS figures supplied to us, horse meat exported for human consumption in the last recorded financial year had a 'sum value' in excess of sixteen million dollars (AU). We think that rates a mention. If we're going to do it, lets acknowledge it, and let's make the information as freely available as that of cattle, sheep, pig, lamb, goat, etc.
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